David Brooks on the evolution of simplicity

In his essay Brooks describes today’s impulse to simplify and streamline as stemming in part from a desire to lessen the “ache from all the scattered shallowness.” He also lasers in on efforts that are called simplifying but mainly boil down to “a more refined, organic, locally grown and morally status-building form of materialism.”

For all of us trying to simplify, I think it helps to first articulate why we’re doing it. If we’re moving toward “unity of purpose,” as Brooks so eloquently writes, what do we truly need to do to get there?